Decade is an unreleased greatest hits compilation album by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson. Matt Forger confirmed and talked about it in depth during the 151st episode of the MJCast.[1]
The album later turned into what would become Jackson's eighth studio album, Dangerous, with the idea itself seemingly inspiring the first disc of the ninth and double studio album, HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I.
Background[]
Reports and rumors[]
The first reports appeared in an article featured in the "Black and White" fanzine (French edition), talking about a supposed "secret album" coming soon. Those stated that the project was planned to be released in late 1989 and feature Jackson's greatest hits from 1979–1989. More rumors started spreading that Jackson supposedly "missed the deadline" and that he'd rework the album with a different track listing, now featuring songs recorded from 1980–1990.
Official information[]
Very little official information about the project is known. Forger confirmed during the MJCast interview that the project would've featured Jackson's greatest hits along with three new tracks. Works started during the Summer of 1989, more specifically in July. During Christmas, Bruce Swedien joined the project. At that time, the team would also shift studios from Westlake to Record One, as Jackson felt like he didn't have as much privacy due to the number of people working at Westlake.[1] The record was first meant to be released before December 1989, but as half an album's worth of strong material was ultimately made, the project got shelved and turned into Dangerous.[2]
Not much is known about the development of the album between 1990–1991. The latest known DATs of Decade date back to May 1991.
Debunked information[]
While rumors say that Jackson recorded a cover of The Beatles' "Strawberry Fields Forever", it was debunked by Brad Sundberg during his In the Studio With MJ seminars. He stated Jackson was approached about the idea, but that he passed on it. Sundberg also debunked Jackson ever re-recording any of The Jackson 5 material, "I'll Be There" and "Never Can Say Goodbye", which were rumored to be on another variation of the track list. Songs such as "It Doesn't Really Matter" ("Who Is It") were rumored to appear as well. The reports also featured a fake album cover and tracklist.
Track list[]
After Sundberg's laptop was stolen on January 27, 2023, pictures of a couple of tracklists for Decade were leaked. The first originated from February 14, 1990, while the second originated from May 3, 1991. Decade would debut songs like "Come Together" and "Heal the World", before their official release on the next two studio albums, respectively. On the 1991 tracklist, "Off the Wall" seems to have been replaced by "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)", despite it already being included on the previous leaked tracklist. "Music and Me" is also the only Motown solo song featured on the compilation.
| Standard edition | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 1. | "Billie Jean" | 4:54 |
| 2. | "Bad" | 4:07 |
| 3. | "Rock with You" | 3:40 |
| 4. | "The Way You Make Me Feel" | 4:57 |
| 5. | "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" | 6:04 |
| 6. | "Workin' Day and Night" | 5:13 |
| 7. | "Thriller" | 5:57 |
| 8. | "Beat It" | 4:18 |
| 9. | "Human Nature" | 4:06 |
| 10. | "She's Out of My Life" | 3:37 |
| 11. | "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" | 3:59 |
| 12. | "Say Say Say" (with Paul McCartney) | 3:54 |
| 13. | "Off the Wall" | 4:06 |
| 14. | "Leave Me Alone" | 4:40 |
| 15. | "This Place Hotel" | 5:43 |
| 16. | "Man in the Mirror" | 5:18 |
| 17. | "Smooth Criminal" | 4:17 |
| 18. | "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" | 6:03 |
| 19. | "Dirty Diana" | 4:40 |
| 20. | "Music and Me" | 2:38 |
| 21. | "Someone in the Dark" | 4:48 |
| 22. | "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (featuring Siedah Garrett) | 4:11 |
| 23. | "Liberian Girl" | 3:52 |
| 24. | "The Girl Is Mine" (featuring Paul McCartney) | 3:42 |
| 25. | "State of Shock" (featuring Mick Jagger) | 4:31 |
| 26. | "Come Together" | 4:02 |
| 27. | "Heal the World" | 6:24 |
Trivia[]
- According to author Joseph Vogel in the book Man in the Music: The Creative Life and Work of Michael Jackson, a promo acetate CD for Decade also included "Man in Black", an unreleased song intended for the Dangerous album.[3]